ASU vs. AU

Deciding between Appalachian State University and Anderson University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Appalachian State University
Anderson University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • ASU Boone, NC
  • AU Anderson, SC
  • Setting
  • ASU Distant Town
  • AU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • ASU 21,570
  • AU 4,710
  • Type
  • ASU Public 4 Year
  • AU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • ASU #599
  • AU #662
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ASU -
  • AU Baptist
  • Status
  • ASU Non-profit
  • AU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • ASU
  • AU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • ASU $7,579
  • AU $34,970
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • ASU $25,212
  • AU $34,970
  • Room & Board
  • ASU $12,868
  • AU $12,720
  • Average Net Price
  • ASU $14,978
  • AU $24,434
  • Average Grant Aid
  • ASU $8,014
  • AU $25,969
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • ASU 46%
  • AU 98%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • ASU 24,614
  • AU 4,548
  • Admitted
  • ASU 22,188
  • AU 2,488
  • Acceptance Rate
  • ASU 90.1%
  • AU 54.7%
  • Enrolled
  • ASU 18.2%
  • AU 32.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • ASU 1200
  • AU 1190
  • Typical ACT score
  • ASU 24
  • AU 25
  • Average High School GPA
  • ASU 3.96
  • AU 3.72
  • Typical High School Grades
  • ASU A
  • AU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • ASU Average
  • AU Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • ASU
  • AU Low
  • ACT Range
  • ASU 21/27
  • AU 22/29
  • SAT Range
  • ASU 1120/1280
  • AU 1100/1280
  • Submit Test Scores
  • ASU Test optional
  • AU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • ASU Feb 1, 2027
  • AU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • ASU 16:1
  • AU 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • ASU
    • Business (20%)
    • Education (17%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • AU
    • Education (37%)
    • Business (36%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Psychology (4%)
    • Communication (3%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • ASU 65%
  • AU 48%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • ASU $41,600
  • AU $37,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • ASU 74%
  • AU 60%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • ASU $20,500
  • AU $26,862
  • Median Loan Payment
  • ASU $211
  • AU $277

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • ASU 43%
  • AU 42%
  • % Women
  • ASU 57%
  • AU 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • ASU Very Low
  • AU Very Low
  • HBCU
  • ASU No
  • AU No
  • % White
  • ASU 85%
  • AU 83%
  • % Asian
  • ASU 2%
  • AU 1%
  • % Black
  • ASU 3%
  • AU 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • ASU 4%
  • AU 3%
  • % Native American
  • ASU 0%
  • AU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • ASU 0%
  • AU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • ASU 3%
  • AU 2%
  • % International
  • ASU 1%
  • AU 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • ASU 2%
  • AU 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • ASU 86%
  • AU 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • ASU 14%
  • AU 30%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • ASU Yes
  • AU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • ASU No
  • AU No
  • Meal Plan
  • ASU Yes
  • AU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • ASU No
  • AU Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • ASU Yes
  • AU No

Comparable Facts

Compare Appalachian State University in Boone, NC with Anderson University in Anderson, SC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Appalachian State University is larger than AU based on total student enrollment (21,570 students vs. 4,710 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Appalachian State University is located in Boone, NC (Distant Town setting); Anderson University is in Anderson, SC (Small City setting).
  • Appalachian State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Anderson University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Appalachian State University 16:1; Anderson University 13:1.

ASU vs. AU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ASU or AU? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Appalachian State University than AU ($14,978 vs. $24,434).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Anderson University are 1.2% lower than at Appalachian State University ($12,720 vs. $12,868).
  • Anderson University is 361.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than ASU (about $27,391 more per year; $34,970.00 vs. $7,579.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 38.7% higher at AU than at Appalachian State University (about $9,758 more per year; $34,970.00 vs. $25,212.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Anderson University than at Appalachian State University (98% vs. 46%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Anderson University students is 224% larger than aid received by Appalachian State University students ($25,969 vs. $8,014).

ASU vs. AU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ASU or AU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between AU and ASU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Appalachian State University (1200) is 10 points higher than at AU (1190).
  • Incoming AU students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (25 vs. 24 at ASU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Appalachian State University 1120/1280; Anderson University 1100/1280.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Appalachian State University 21/27; Anderson University 22/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ASU - Test optional; AU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: ASU Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman ASU students have a 0.24 point higher average high school GPA (3.96) than students at AU (3.72).
  • ASU has a higher acceptance rate (90.1%) than AU (54.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.2% at ASU vs. 32.5% at AU.

ASU vs. AU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ASU and AU? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Appalachian State University's six-year graduation rate (65%) is higher than Anderson University's (48%).
  • Graduates from Appalachian State University earn a median of about $4,100 more per year than AU graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,600 vs. $37,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Appalachian State University graduates have a $6,362 lower median loan debt than AU graduates ($20,500 vs. $26,862).
  • Among borrowers, ASU graduates have an estimated $66 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than AU graduates ($211 vs. $277).
  • More ASU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AU students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 60%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.